Machine for feeding and affixing laundry-tags.



No. 878,593. P'ATENTED FEB.11, 1908.

F. P. AKERLY & w. BORGHERT.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING AND AFPIXI'NG L'AUNDRY TAGS.

APPLIOATIOK FILED MAY 4. 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 1.

' WITNESSES 1 I mmvroes ATTORNEYS No. 878,593. PATENTED FEB. 11, 1908. P. P. AKERLY & W. BOROHERT.

MACHINE FOR FEEDING AND APPIXING LAUNDRY TAGS.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 4, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHBET 2.

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lA/VENTOHS No. 878,593. PATENTED PEB.11, 1908. F. F. AKERLY & W. BORCHERT. MACHINE FOR FEEDING AND AFPIXING LAUNDRY TAGS.

APPLIOATION FILED MAY 4, 1907.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

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W/TNE SSE S fee UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK FREEMAN AKERLY AND WILLIAM IBORCHERT, or Reno, NEVADA'I" nacnmn ron'rnnnm c AND lame LAUfiDBiY-[IAGB I Specification of Letters Patent. w

Application filed Kay 4. 1907. sum F0. 871.771;

Patented Feb. 11,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANK FREEMAN AKERLY and WILLIAM BORCHERT, citizens of the United States, and residents of Bend, in the county of Washoe and State of Nevada, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Feeding and Afiixing Laundry-Tags, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a very simple and economic machine, especially designed for distributing laundry tags and affixin them to articles to be laundered, the tags being those for which Letters Patent were granted to us November 6, 1906, Serial No. 835,383.

A further purpose of the invention is to so construct the machine that there will be a continuous and automatic feed of tags while any of them are contained in the receiving cylinder of the machine, and to provide a mechanism whereby the machine can be conveniently and rapidly operated by one individual. I

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts as will be hereinafter fully set forth and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the fig ures."

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine; Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the machine illustrating the position of its parts when a tag is in position to receive an article and to be pressed'thereon; Fig. 3 is a view similar to that shown in Fig. 2, illustrating the tag as having been ressed upon the material, and the parts of t e machine about to return to their normal position; Fig. 4 is a vertical section through a portion of the machine, the parts being in the position assumed when the last tag in the com artment has been forced out therefrom an the receiver is about to be revolved to bring another filled compartment in position for delivery, and Fig. 5 is an enlarged horizontal section taken practically on the line 55 of Fig. 2. The bed A of the machine is preferabl circular and is provided with a slot IOthat extendsfrom-a point beyond its center/out through one of itsedges and the said "slot 10 at its inner end is rovided with an extension 11 of reduced wi th, as is shownin dotted lines in Fig. 5. A plate l0 'covers the slot in; bed plate A is supported usually by two standards 12 and 13 located opposite er at-.

each other, the standards being eit tached to or integral with a base plate 15, or other support. The standard 13 is of greater thic ess than the standard 12 and is provided with a vertical groove 14 in each of its sides, extendi from the top to the bottom, as is shown est in Figs. 3 and 4. The said grooves 14' are rectangular in cross section and are for a purpose to be hereinafter described. An opening 16 is'provided in the standard 12 at a point between its ends, and a second opening 16*-is also made in the said standard 12 just below the bed A. A horizontal table 18 is formed at the upper portion of the standard 13. This table extends inwardly beneath the bed plate A and is removed a predetermined distance fromthe said bed late, as is shown best in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. he table has a flat upper face and the outer end portion of the said table is curved downward, as is illustrated at 19 in the drawings, so as to facilitate the introduction of goods to the said.

table or to any object that may be supported by the table. A shaft 20 is fixed many approved manner in the plate 10, as is s own in Fi s. 2, 3, 4 and 5, the said shaft being contra ly located with reference to the bed plate A.

A cylinder B 1s located at the marginal portion of the bed plate A, the cylinder being removabl attached to the said bed plate in any suita le or approved manner. A second and inner cylinder C is also employed of much less diameter than the outer c linder B, as is best shown in Fig. 5, and t e said inner cylinder 0 is provided with a series of vertica and, radially arranged com artments 0, which compartments of t emselves are open at their outer portions, being closed, however, at said portions by the outer cylinder B when the two cylinders are in position on the bed plate A.v The outer cylinder B is stationary, but the inner cylinder C is adapted to revolve and is r1provided at the lower portion of its inner su ace with a horizontal flange 21, in which flange a series of notches or recesses 22 is-produced, and these notches or recesses 22 are located opposite the point of junction between the compartments C. The inner cylinder C is also preferably provided with spiders 23 that are loosely received bythe shaft 20.

The compartments 0 are adapted to contain a series of laundry tags D, which tags are substantially U-sha ed, and the tags of each series are connecte by a strap of fragile material of an suitable or approved character, and each series of tags, they being arranged one above the other, is suflicient to fill a compartment C extending initially from the bottom to the top thereof, as is illustrated in Fig. 2. It may be here remarked that the bottoms of the compartments C are open as wellas the tops, and

the tags one on the other are adapted to be fed from the bottom of the compartment out from the machine.

A plunger E is provided in connection with the standard 13 com rising a top sec tion 6 and side sections e, w 'ch slde sections are mounted to slide in the rooves 14 produced in the standard 13. e lunger E is rovided with a in 27 normally ocated just elow the stan ard, as is shown in Fig.2, and a link 28 is pivotally connected with the lower ends of the side members of the plunger E, adapted to turn for connection with a suitable foot pedal of any desired lhe two cylinders B and C are closed at the top of the machine by a cover 24 having a downwardly extending flange adjacent to its margin that engages the inner wall of the Y linder (J. A stout spring 28 is secured to t e under face of the base 15 at one end and the other end of the spring has engagement with the under face of the lunger pin 27, the spring acting to force the p un er upward so as to normally carry the un er face of the head e of the plunger upward out of engagement with the table 18 of the standard 13. The upper face of the plum er head 6 is concaved, and the under face of t e table portion of the standard 13 at its outer end is concaved in a reverse direction, th two ooncavities being adapted for example, to accommodate the thumb and forefin er of the hand when the plunger E is to e drawn downward toward the table 18. I

An angle lever arm 29 is located at each side of the standard 13 and each lever arm 29 consists of a lower substantially horizontal member a and a longer upwardly extending member a. The lower or shorter member a of these lever arms 29 is pivoted at 30 to the side faces of the standards 13 adjacent to the outer edges of the grooves 14 therein, and screws 31 or their equivalents are passed through suitable slots in the levers 29 at the junction of their members, and into the sliding members e of the plunger E. Thus upon the downward movement of the plunger E the upper and longer members a of the lever arms 29 are directed inward at an inclination, as is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and when the said plunger E is in its full upper or normal position, the longer members a of the lever arms 29 are practically parallel with the sliding side members e of the plunger E,

as is illustrated in Fig. 2.

A transverse recess 34 is roduced in the bottom of the head e of the p unger E,*which recess accommodates'the lower horizontal. foot portion 35 of a sprin 35 that is at tion of. the tab e18 Where the tag is to receive amaterial to be affixed thereto, and the said tag is held in position by the said spring for clenching action on the part of the head of the plunger E. Links 33 are pivotally attached to the upper ends of the longer members a of the lever arms 29, and the said links 33are pivotally connected to off-sets 36 from a collar 37 loose upon the lower horizontal member 38 of an angular push bar F, which member 38 is circular in cross section and extends through and slides loosely in the aperture 16 in the standard 12, as is'shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, wherein it will be also seen that the said push bar F also consists of an upper horizontal member 39 and a connecting member 40, the two latter members being rectangu-.

F, having bearing against the collar 37, and

a washer 42 loose upon said member 38 of the push bar, the washer being limited in its outward movement by a pin 43 secured to the said member. This spring 41 is placed under compression by the inward movement of the links 33 when the plunger E is pressed down to clench a ta The flmction of th1s push bar F is to force the lowermost tag D from the column of tags in position for use,over the said table 18 to a position on said table, whereupon on the downward movement of the plunger E the tag may be compressed, as is shown in Fig. 4. To that end it is obvious that the lowermost tag in the column of tags brought in position for use rests upon the table 18, as is shownin Fig. 3, such position of the tags occurring when the pus bar is in its inner positiomso that when the push bar is forced outward it will engage the said lowermost tag; but normally, that is, after a ta has been-forced out to be clenched, the co umn of ta is supported by the upper horizontal mem er of the push bar, as is shown in Fig. 2, since at that time the said upper member 39 of the push bar will be beneath the said column of tags, but as soon as the push bar is forced inward the lowermost tag drops to an engagement with the table 18 which then supports the column. When the plan er E descends to compress the tag D force( out from the column :the push bar is drawn inward, as is shown in Fig. 3, being then opposite the, lowermost tag in the operative column, which will have dropped onto the table 18. Upon the upward movement of the plunger E the ushbar isforced outward by the action of t e levers- 29-and links 33 forcing the lowermost tag in the operative 001- umn outwardto the osition on the table 18 shown in Fig. 2, an as has been stated, at

such time constitutes the s-upportfor the remaining tags in the column.

A feed bar G made in two sections 46 and 47 is made'to slide in the slot 10 of the plate 10] and. extension 11, as is shown in Figs. 2, 3

and 4,.and the roller 45 of a yoke latch 43,

pivoted .to the member 40'of the push bar and forced upward by 'a spring 44, engages with the under-face of the section 46, causing the said latch tolhave a downward and inward inclined-position, shown in Fig. 2,

when the push'bar F is in normal position, as is shown in Fig. 2. The sec'tion46 of the feed barGis sup orted by the upper horizontalzm'ember of t e push bar F, and this section 46 .is downwardly and inwardly curved and slotted to producer). forked inner end member 48, and just at the rear of said member a semi-circular recess 49 is produced in the-said member 46, of which the end "of which a lip forked terminal 'constitutes one wall, and said recess 49 is adapted to receive the -rollcr 45 of the latch 43 when the push bar F is at its and 4;

- The vided with a body section 47", from the inner 48 extends, adapted when two sections of the feed bar are broughttogetherto enter' the division at the inner position, as is'shown in Figs. 3

a forked end 48 of the section 46, and in the further construction of the section 47 of the feed bar G, it consists of a lower guide mem- 'ber' 51that engages with the under face of the bedplate through'the guide slot 16in the standard 12, and an upper spaced member 52 is also provided that slides upon the upper face of the bed plate, and in one position of the feed enters a notch 22 in the flange 21 of the 1 er cylinder-C to prevent the same from turning. jllh'e section 47 of the feed bar G is mal position an member 47 oflthe feed bar G is proand which also passes out' also provided with a notch53 in its under edge adjacent to its inner end adapted as a kee or for the latch 43.

he outer end of the section 46 of the feed bar G is always opposite either the lower-- most or the next lowermost tag D in a compartment in operation, and engages with one or the other of said tags while tags remain in the compartment, as is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, but when the compartment is empty the feed bar is free to move to the outer cylinder B, as is shown in Fig. 4, to turn the cylinder (3 by such movement and bring another filled compartment in operative position. -It may be here remarked that the plunger E constitutes in its entirety a clenching device.

Supposing the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 2 a full compartment being in operative relation to the push bar F, the push bar in said Fig. 2 is shown as having carried a tag outward in position to be clenched at its inward stroke, and the sections of the feed bar G are shown connected and the outer end of the section 46 as bearing of the feed bar section 47, as is shown in Fi 3, and at such time the projected tag wil have been .clenched.

Upon releasing the plunger or clenching device E the sprin 28 forces it upward to northe levers 29 and links 33 are drawn outward assisted by the spring 41, and asflthe push bar moves out toward normal position the roller 45 in passing from the recess 49 will cause the latch 43 to disengage from'the section 47 of'the feed bar, and: the

push bar will then proceed onits way to carry the next.lower ,t ag in position to be clenched.

When, however, all of the tags have been used up from the compartment 0 in action and the push bar F is, carried inward, the roller and latch will engage with the feed bar in the manner above described, but on the return of the push barit will carry the feed bar outward with it, causing it to travel to practically an engagement with the inner wall of the outer cylinder B as is .shown in Fig. 4, and at such time the inner cylinder 0' is revolved to bring a filled compartment C osition for the discharge of its tags. While the feed bar G is in its inner or fixed positions, the upper member 52 thereof will enter one of the recesses 22 in the flan e of the inner cylinder and thus prevent sai cylinder from turning during the operation of distributing and clenching the tags, .but as the feed barG moves outward such locking shaft 20, as is best shown in Fig. 5. The said feed arm 56 is provided at its outer end with a pivoted finger 57 that serves as a dog, and

the said dog is held in position to enter any one of the notches or recesses 22 in the flange 21 of the inner cylinder (.3 by means of.a suitable spring 58, as is also shown in Fig. 5. A spring 59 that is coiled around the shaft 20, is connected with the feed arm 56 in such manner that the said feed arm 56 is normally held in such position as to bring the dog 57 in 25fposition to engage with the next recess 22 to that previously engaged by the do and on the outward movement of the feed bar G the partial rotation of the inner cylinder C is accomplished.

A pawl 60 is ivoted u on the bed plate A, and one end 0 this aw is made to engage with the pin 54 on w 'ch the link 54 is pivoted, being held in such contact by-a spring 62, and as the feed bar G moves outward to eflect the rotation of the inner cylinder C, the spring 62 acts to carry the other end of the pawl in position to engage with one of the notches 22, so as to prevent the inner cylinder from turning more than the distance I of one compartment.

Having thus described our invention, we claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent,

1. In a machine for distributing and clenching tags and the like, a rotatable reservoir having chambers for the reception of tags, distributing means cooperating-with the reservoir, a clenching mechanism, means for rotating the reservoir, and means controlled by the clenching mechanism for operating the rotating means, and the distributing means.

2. In a machine for distributing and cl enching tags and the like, a rotatable reservoir for the tags, a clenching mechanism, a pushbar operated from said clenching mechanism for carrying one tag after the other in operative relation to said clenching mechanism, de-

vices for rotating the reservoir, and devices for locking the same in discharge position, and means for operating the rotating and locking devices for the reservoir by the movement of the clenching mechanism.

3. In a machine for distributing and clenching tags and the like, a rotatable reservoir for the tags, devices for rotating and locking the reservoir, a table, means for clenching the tags when so fed, which means have movement to and from the tags, and timedly operated connections between the clenching I means and the rotating and locking devices,

and the means for feeding the tags, whereby all of the said parts operate in harmony controlled by the clenching-means.

4. In machines for distributing and clenching laundry tags and the like, a rotatable reservoir provided with compartments for the reception of tags, distributing means adapted to operate upon the lowermost tag in a given compartment, clenching means forv the tag thus fed cooperating with the distributing means, and means controlled by the distributing and clenching means, for revolving the said reservoir. I 1 5. In a machine for distributing and clenching laundry tags, a base structure including a base plate and a table, a clenching device operatively mounted in said base structure and having a movement to and from the table, a reservoir mounted to revolve upon a base late adapted tocontain laundry tags, a pus bar operated from the said clenching device for carrying one tag after the other in operative relation to the said clenching dev1ce, and means operated by the ush bar for revolving the reservoir at stated intervals.

6. Ina machine for distributing and clenching laundry tags, the combination with a base structure including a base plate and a bed plate, and standards for the same, one of the said standards having a table formed at its upper end, and a plunger mounted to slide in the table carrying standard, and provided with a clenching head ada ted for movement to and from the said table, of a feed bar adapted for movement u on the bed plate, a feed mechanism contro led by the movement of the said feed bar for rotating the reservoir at predetermined intervals, a push bar adapted to feed the tags consecutively from a given compartment of the reservoir to a space between the said table and a cot) )erating portion of the plunger arm, link and iever connections between the plunger arm and the push bar, and a tension-controlled latch operated by the movement of the push. bar and adapted for operative relation to the feed bar.

In testimony whereof we have signed our. names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FRANK FREEMAN AKERLY.

WILLIAM BOROHER'I. Witnesses: V

M. S. NEALE,

C. S. NICHOLS. 

